SEPT 2017: Poi research wins the prestigious Future Leader Award from The Royal Society Te Apārangi Early Career Researcher (ECR) Forum. The competition celebrates postgraduate students innovations and discoveries.

JULY 2017: Presentation at the Auckland University Professional Staff Conference on the trials and tribulations of following your passion, and how sometimes innovation and inspiration can be found where you'd least expect.

JUNE 2017: After a year and a half long clinical trial with 79 healthy older adults, the results are in! Both the Tai Chi group and the Poi group improved balance, grip strength, memory, and attention after one month of practice.

MARCH 2017: Making a living off of a ball on a cord isn't easy! Patreon is an ongoing crowdfunding site where you can donate as little as $1 a month and help support poi research, plus get exclusive updates and rewards!

DECEMBER 2016: "Dance Studies doctoral student, Kate Riegle van West, is conducting the first research study to measure the effects of International Poi on physical and cognitive function in
healthy older adults.

NOVEMBER 2016: "A researcher who is looking into the health benefits of twirling a poi is in a spin after winning a hard-fought global thesis competition. Kate Riegle van West came all the way from the US to study at Auckland University..."

NOVEMBER 2016: Kate was awarded 1st place in the International U21 3MT competition! "From circus performer to award winning doctoral candidate...Kate’s win reminds us that excellent students come from all walks of life."

SEPTEMBER 2016: Kate was announced the Doctoral Winner and the People's Choice of the University of Auckland 2016 Three Minute Thesis competition. She will go on to compete at the Asia / Pacific competition in Brisbane.

JUNE 2016: Preliminary results of the poi and health trial were presented at two international conferences, the International Federation on Ageing 13th Global Conference in Brisbane, and the World Congress on Active Ageing in Melbourne.

JANUARY 2016: An article about the upcoming poi research study was released in local Auckland newspapers: "There are hidden health benefits behind one of the oldest Maori traditions. This is what student Kate Riegle-Van West is trying to prove..."

FEB 2011: As part of the New Media Caucus at the 2011 College Arts Association Conference, Kate spoke about The Orbitar on the Instrument as Artwork as Interface panel. Her research was also published in the Media-N Journal following the conference.

JUNE 2010: The Geometry of Poi, originally a 4 channel video installation, was a finalist at the International Digital Graffiti Festival in Florida, where it was projected life size on the side of a building during the festival.